Arch support



March 27, 1934.

'1'. J. DEVINE 1,952,538

ARCH SUPPORT Filed July 22, 1932 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6Claims.

This invention relates to arch supports and it proposes the construction, along scientific lines, of an arch support and protector that shall hold the longitudinal arch elevated by suspending the arch of the foot in the shoe free from the instep.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an arch support as a means, not merely for relieving foot trouble such as fallen or weak arches, but supporting perfectly normal arches and avoiding the fatigue of the foot muscles arising from strenuous exercise such for example, as hiking or golfing.

More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide an arch support substantially co-extensive with the base of support of the foot, that is to say, being of suflicient length and width to be engaged by the extremities of the longitudinal and metatarsal arches, and to be held in position in the shoe by the pressure of the foot at the three points of suspension determined by the ends of said'arches, said support being provided on the inner side with an arch fiap which can be pulled up against the side of the longitudinal arch to restore it to, and to hold it in normal up-right position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a in an arch support of the type described, a'strap secured adjacent the outer edge of the arch support and underlying the same transversely, and being adapted to encompass the arch flap and instep and to be made fast to a buckle provided on the exterior of the shoe, the suspending stress being progressively applied from the outer side of the foot where the width of the longitudinal arch begins.

A further object of the invention is to form the arch flap as a pocket in which may be placed one or a plurality of pads for stiffening the arch support, said pad or pads preferably extending toward the outer side of the support and be ng tapered toward said outer side and embraced by said strap, whereby progressive firmness is imparted to that part of the device which elevates the arch.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision in the flexible member of an adjustable metatarsal arch cushion.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arch support or protector which can be sold as an article of manufacture, capable of being worn in conjunction with any shoe, it being essental only that the dealer be provided with a device for attaching a buckle to the outside of the shoe.

Other objects'of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing, throughout the several figures of which, the same characters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe of the oxford type showing the arch support of the present invention positioned therein;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 at about the middle of the longitudinal arch;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1, or along the metatarsal arch; and

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the arch support, a portion of the strap being broken away.

Referring now in detail to" the several figures, the numeral 1 represents in general, a flexible member preferably made of two layers of thin leather sewn together at the edges. The fiexible member is sufhciently long to provide support for the heel at 2 and for the extremities 3 and 4 of the metatarsal arch. The flexible member is designed to be placed freely in the shoe and to be held in position by the pressure of the foot upon the three points of suspension indicated by the numerals 2, 3 and 4. When the pressure of the foot is relieved as in sitting down, there is no tendency for the arch support to work out of place.

A flap 5 is provided along the inner side of the arch support, said flap, like the rest of the flexible member, being preferably of double thickness. A strap 6 is stitched or otherwise secured adjacent the outer edge of the arch support, said strap being arranged to under-lie the flexible member, to embrace the flap 5 and draw it against the side of the longitudinal arch, said strap being adapted to embrace the instep as indicated at 7 in Figure 2, and to be made fast to a buckle 8 attached to the outside of the shoe. The strap emerges from the inside to the outside of the shoe through the opening between the two sides of the vamp and preferably overlies the tongue of the shoe.

It will be observed fromFigure 2 that the eifect'of the strap is not only to press the flap 5 against the side of the longitudinal arch, but by virtue of the fact that the strap is secured at a point adjacent the outside of the foot, it tends to elevate progressively the longitudinal arch as indicated at 9, in effect suspending it within the shoe. It is not to be understood that the arch is held out of contact with the sole of the shoe to the extent indicated in Figure 2, which is exaggerated in order to illustrate the principle of the invention, but the pressure of the arch downward is encountered by an upward pressure imposed by the resistance of the strap, which resiliently supports the arch and yet at the same time, gives in response to the flexing of the foot.

The lower layer of the material, of which the flexible member is constructed, is preferably slitted longitudinally of the arch support as shown at 10, thus providing a line of weakness which determines a definite line of fold for the flap 5 which is brought up against the side of the arch by the pressure of the strap, restorin the arch to a substantially vertical plane. By this movement, the big toe is automatically moved outwardly with respect to the other toes, thus increasing the eificiency of the standing position of the foot.

By the provision of the slit 10, a pocket 11 is formed Within the fiap 5 having the slit 10 for its outlet. This pocket is for the reception of a pad 12 which may be of rubber, leather-or any other suitable. material and it imparts the desired degree of stifiness to the flap 5. The invention contemplates that by the insertion of one or a plurality of pads into the pocket 11, the stiffness of the flap 5 may be adjustably varied from time to time as the conditions of use may indicate as being desirable.

Figure 4 shows that the pad 12 projects from the pocket 11 toward the outer edge of the arch support, and it will be understood that-when the strap 6 is in place, it presses the pad 12 against the flexible member, thus imparting stiffness to the arch support, not only in the region of the flap which embraces the side of the longitudinal arch, but also against the under-side of said arch. It will be observed also that the flap 12 is tapered toward the outer edge of the foot, so that the stiffness is imparted progressively as the longitudinal arch lengthens, which is according to the scientific demands of an arch support or protector.

The flexible member 1 is provided in its forward edge, intermediate the extremities 3 and 4 of the metatarsal arch with a pocket 13 adapted to receive one or a plurality of pads 14 which preferably, extend beyond the confines of said pocket. The pad or pads 14 form a yielding cushion, restoring or maintaining the shape of the metatarsal arch.

Figure 4 shows that the arch support is provided in the heel portion with a transverse slit 15 affording an opening for the insertion of a heel pad 16. It will be understood, of course, that the provision of the heel pad and of the metatarsal arch pad are not essential to the invention in its broadest aspect, which relates primarily to the means for holding the arch support in place and for supporting and protecting the longitudinal arch.

One of the important features of the invention is that it is not necessary to build it into a shoe, but that it may be made and sold as an accessory, only two or three sizes being necessary for mens shoes'and perhaps a similar range of sizes for womens shoes. Since the arch supports are designed to be held in place solely through pressure of the foot, it is merely necessary for the dealer to be provided with a tool for fastening the buckle 8 to the outside of the shoe.

While I have in the above description, disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that such variations in shape and construction may be. made as the exigencies of use may require and that the specific details of construction as shown and illustrated are merely by way of example and not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. Arch support comprising a'flexible member co-extensive at least with the base of support of the foot defined by the extremities of the longitudinal and metatarsal arches, and adapted to be held in position by the pressure of the foot, said member having a flap for engaging the side of the longitudinal arch, said flexible member being of double thickness and having the lower layer slitted longitudinally at the base of said arch flap, whereby a definite line of fold is produced, and a strap secured to said member near the outer edge, extending transversely beneath said member embracing said flap and adapted to encompass the instep and to be made fast to a buckle provided on the shoe for applying suspending pressure to said arch progressively from the outer side of the foot, and drawing said arch flap into engagement with the side of the arch.

2. Arch support as claimed in claim 1, in which a pocket is defined in said arch flap between the upper and lower layers, having said slit for its outlet, adapted to receive a pad.

3. Arch support as claimed in claim 1, in which a pocket is defined in said arch flap between the upper and lower layers, having said slit for its outlet, and a pad in said pocket and projecting therefrom toward the outer side of said arch support, and between said strap and flexible member.

4. Arch support as claimed in claim 1, in which a pocket is defined in said arch flap between the upper and lower layers, having said slit for its outlet, and a pad in said pocket projecting therefrom toward the outer side of said arch support, said pad being tapered in outline and having its apex between said strap and flexible member.

5. Arch support comprising a member co-extensive at least with the base of support of the foot defined by the extremities of the longitudinal and metatarsal arches, and adapted to be held in position by the pressure of the foot, said member being of double thickness and having a flap for engaging the side of the longitudinal arch, said member being. slitted longitudinally in its lower layer at the base of said arch fiap whereby a definite line of fold is produced, a

pocket being defined in said arch flap between the upper and lower layers and between said slit, adapted to receive a pad, said member being provided with a pocket in its forward edge intermediate the extremities of the metatarsal arch for receiving a pad, and a strap secured to said member, near the outer edge, extending transversely beneath said member embracing said flap and adapted to embrace the instep and to be made fast to a buckle provided on the shoe for applying suspending pressure to said arch progressively from the outer side of the foot, and drawing said arch flap into engagement with the side of the arch.

6. Arch support comprising a flexible member co-extensive at least with the base of support of the foot defined by the extremities of the longitudinal and metatarsal arches, and adapted to be held in position by pressure of the foot, said member having a flap for engaging a side of the longitudinal arch, said member being of double pad, and a strap secured to said member, near the outer edge, extending transversely beneath said member embracing said flap and adapted to embrace the instep and to be made fast to a buckle provided on the shoe for applying suspending pressure to said arch progressively from the outer side of the foot, and drawing said arch flap into engagement with the side of the arch.

moms J. DEVINE. 

